Oprah Shares How Faith in God Carried Her Through an Abusive Childhood

Oprah's rise to success was not an easy one. The Mississippi native was born of a one night stand between her mother and father. She lived with her grandmother in Mississippi until she was 6 years old when she was sent to live with her grandmother.

Oprah describes her relationship to faith. "I grew up with an understanding that there was this god—all knowing, all powerful—who loved me...the wonder of that is what carried me when I was sent to live with my mother at 6-years-old," she said.

From her first moments in the house, she says she was uncomfortable. "I remember the first night entering into that house and being told I wouldn't be able to sleep with my mother and I wouldn't be able to sleep inside the house," Oprah explained. "I later realized it was because of the color of my skin."